A Helensburgh Tennis Club member travelled to Austria to take part in a top seniors competition.

Elspeth McLean was part of an international team lining up against an American squad at the Wilson Friendship Cup in Klagenfurt.

But despite Elspeth’s victory in her singles match, the Americans proved too strong for the multi-national side as they won by 17 points to three.

The competition, for players aged over 75, takes place every two years and players are only allowed to take part once, thus branding itself a ‘Once in a lifetime’ experience.

Elspeth was joined in the multi-national team by three Australians, two players from Switzerland, three from England and one from Canada.

They were up against a very strong American team which contained some players who had played at Wimbledon in the past as professionals.

Elspeth later described the experience at the competition as “unforgettable” while the international team’s Australian captain, Nola Collins, said at the prizegiving afterwards that the tennis had come second to the friendships established over the 12 days.

The Wilson Friendship Cup is so called because it is sponsored by American former professional tennis player Mary Wilson and her husband Ralph.